Parking
The trail access is behind Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Use designated Lake Louise parking and walk to the Chateau-side start; roadside parking is prohibited.
Overview
About Ross Lake Trail
Why go
- A dramatic lake at the end of a varied forest approach.
Heads up
- The 14.2 km return is a half-day commitment.
- The final section narrows to winding singletrack.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,728–1,849 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Ross Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this area
Lake Louise and the Lakeshore0:00 / 0:32
“You're coming up on Lake Louise, where the public shore looks straight toward Victoria Glacier between the mountains. You don't need a big hike for that view.”
Plays on the road 0.4 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Ice Beneath the Boulders
- The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
- The Map Drawn from Memory
- Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
- 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
Trail guide
Hiking Ross Lake Trail
What the hike isRoss Lake Trail is an 8.8-mile (14.
Ross Lake Trail is an 8.8-mile (14.2-km) out-and-back from the access behind Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to Ross Lake. The mapped corridor is about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) one way; it runs west from Lake Louise into Yoho and ends at a rocky lakeshore below steep, layered cliffs. Allow 4 to 5 hours. The distance is the main commitment, so save energy for the same route back.
How the walk changesThe first third is a broader double-track.
The first third is a broader double-track. Farther along, the path narrows into winding singletrack. The route rises and falls through the forest rather than finishing with a summit climb, and the return follows the same corridor.
At Ross LakeThe route ends at the lake edge, with rocky shallows, conifers around the water, and steep…
The route ends at the lake edge, with rocky shallows, conifers around the water, and steep cliffs across the basin. That is the payoff for the long approach. For a photo, keep the shallows in the foreground and the cliff walls across the water so the frame shows the shape of the basin.
Start on the Lake Louise sideThis entry describes the Chateau-side route.
This entry describes the Chateau-side route. A separate Ross Lake approach begins from Lake O’Hara Road; its shorter distance belongs to that different start. Use designated Lake Louise parking and walk to the trail access behind the Chateau; roadside parking is prohibited. Dogs are allowed on leash and under physical control. Cell service is limited in Yoho, so save an offline route before setting out. If you want lake scenery with a much shorter walk, choose the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail instead. If you want lake scenery with a much shorter walk, take the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail instead.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
